The Fruit Machine

Clapperboard UK in partnership with Outsiders and Liverpool Pride present: Liverpool writer Frank Clarke and a screening of his acclaimed feature film - THE FRUIT MACHINE Sunday 8 August 2010, 7.00p.m. The Fruit Machine, shot on location in Liverpool, directed by Philip Saville (The Life and Loves of a She Devil, The Gospel of John, Metroland) & written by Frank Clarke (Brookside, Letter to Brezhnev, Blond Fist) is the story Eddie and Michael who are best friends on the brink of adulthood. Eddie likes watching old movies on video with his mum. Michael likes video games and the street. They are total opposites that argue like an old married couple. Leaving behind the grim, oppressive reality of Liverpool, they stumble into the bizarre fantasy world of a transvestite nightclub called The Fruit Machine, run by "Annabelle"(Robbie Coltrane). There, they witness a brutal gangland murder by Echo that transforms their quest for adventure into a run for their lives. Alone and afraid, yet hopeful, they wind up in Brighton with Vincent and Eve at Wonderland, where their path is strewn with manipulation, deceit and murder. Liverpool born Frank Clarke, brother of Margi and Angela, had his first success working on Liverpool’s award winning soap Brookside. He then went on to write acclaimed low budget feature film, Letter to Brezhnev and Blonde Fist. Frank Clarke said “I wrote Fruit Machine in 1985 and it was meant to be an allegory of what was happening to our young gay brothers, men who were brutally stolen from life by virtue of their sexuality. It was a time to stand up and be counted and this film is a tribute to all of our beautiful mates who didn’t make it.” Clapperboard’s director, Maureen Sinclair said “The issues that Frank tackled in The Fruit Machine, are still prevalent today. THE FRUIT MACHINE (By Frank Clarke) The screening of Fruit Machine forms part of Liverpool Pride’s Chill Out Sunday.

Tickets

Tickets: £5 and £10 - from FACT box office. Picturehouse@fact Wood Street Liverpool L1 4DQ